Empowering Alma’s independence with the x:panda shape Advanced

The family partnered with R82 to implement the x:panda shape Advanced seat on a high-low:xo frame, complemented by appropriate accessories. The solution provided precise postural support, simplified daily transfers and enabled Alma to conserve energy, improving her comfort, participation and independence across daily routines.

Revisiting Alma

Alma lives in Silkeborg with her parents, Inge and Thomas, her big brother Theodor, and little sister Ella. We previously visited Alma and her family when she was only three years old to find out about her use of the x:panda on a high-low:xo frame.

Alma has a close relationship with her siblings, who are an important part of her daily life and a source of both joy and motivation for her to participate in activities.  

Alma lives with the consequences of stage V twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, which caused the death of her twin sister Agnes.

The health conditions affecting Alma’s life include cerebral palsy and microcephaly, impacting her bodily functions and functional abilities to eat and drink, communicate, move and perform self-care activities.

The family’s main focus is on improving Alma’s quality of life and enabling her to be as independent as possible, rather than acceding to the limitations that come with having a child with severe disabilities. This also means that medical devices have become a natural part of everyday life to support Alma’s development and give her the best possible conditions to participate. Even the family cat, Mille, is an experienced adaptive device cat, stealing a nap in Alma’s buggy, the R82 Stingray, or the R82 x:panda shape chair, when she is not using them.

Alma attends school from 8am to 4pm every day and takes part in wheelchair gymnastics with the Dreamteam. However, due to her condition, the right postural support is crucial to achieve the highest level of function and participation. Alma has reduced postural control and balance, and high muscle tone, making it difficult for her to coordinate her movements. She is also unable to sit unsupported. Therefore, the family needed a seating system that offered precise, adaptable postural support, and could grow with Alma and fit seamlessly into her everyday life – both at home and at school.

Since Alma is a tall, slim girl, she needs postural support close to her body. The x:panda shape offers adjustable seat depth and width, and five different back heights. The back is also adjustable in width, which makes it possible to create a seat that optimally fits Alma’s body type. As Alma has leg length discrepancy, the two independently adjustable seat plates make it possible to have varying seat depth to accommodate both the left and the right leg.

The x:panda shape provides postural support through the curved, swing-away side supports that follow the shape of her ribcage to increase the area of support to her trunk. The swing-away side supports also allow Alma’s parents to easily move Alma in and out of the seat. Together with the high adjustability and tilt functions of high-low:xo, it is possible to adjust the seat to make moving Alma as easy and comfortable as possible, both for her and her parents.

Alma tends to slide out of the seat, so the x:panda shape is fitted with adjustable wedges to create a seat pit, close-fitting hip supports and a y-hip belt. The wedges, hip supports and y-hip belt provide a stable base for Alma’s pelvis; they also encourage a more neutral position for the pelvis and reduce the risk of sliding forwards in the seat. For Alma, this means that she has the optimal conditions for participating in fun activities both at home and at school.

With the R82 x:panda shape Advanced, Alma’s family has found a highly adjustable seating system that matches her body type, accommodates her leg length discrepancy and simplifies daily routines. When sitting requires less energy, Alma has more energy for laughing and teasing her mother by pushing teddy bears off her tray.

As Alma continues to thrive at school and with Dreamteam, this setup can easily be adapted as her needs evolve, to support ongoing participation and independence.

Alma also uses the Flamingo Curo toilet and bathing chair for her daily hygiene routines, which you can read more about here.